Motto Moriagaro Explained

Motto Moriagaro
Type:	studio
Longtype:	(reissue)
Artist:	Ai
Cover:	Ai - Motto Moriagaro.png
Recorded:	2012–2013
Length:	64:26
Prev Title:	Moriagaro
Prev Year:	2013
Next Title:	The Best
Next Year:	2015

Motto Moriagaro (stylized in caps) is a reissue of Japanese–American singer-songwriter Ai's tenth studio album, Moriagaro (2013). It was released on November 20, 2013, by EMI Records Japan, four months after the original album. The reissue features two new songs, including promotional single "Run Free" featuring Miliyah Kato and Verbal, two remixes and a piano version of "Dear Mama". For physical release, a second disc includes special DJ mixes by DJ Hirakatsu.

Background and release

Ai previously released her tenth studio album, Moriagaro, in June 2013. In October 2013 it was revealed the album would be reissued, titled Motto Moriagaro.^{[1] [2]} Two of the bonus tracks previously were used in TV commercials prior to the release of the album reissue. "Get Your Hands Up" was used as the Ya-man Dancing EMS CM song and "Run Free" was used as a song promoting Reebok Classic.^[3]

Similar to the original album, recording took place mostly in Tokyo, as well as in West Hollywood, Atlanta and New York City.^[4] The album was primarily produced by longtime collaborator Uta, who Ai has worked with since 2009 and various American producers.

Tours

Ai's Moriagaro Tour began in October in Kanagawa, Japan, and included 33 dates. The final concert was held on December 18, 2013, at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.^[5]

Track listing

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Moriagaro and Tidal.^[6] Notes

• Track 7 of disc one and 21 of disc two are stylized in all lower case.
• Tracks 1, 3–4, 8, and 10–15 of disc one and 4, 11, 16–18, and 20 of disc two are stylized in all capitals.
• Tracks 6, 16 and 17 of disc one and 8 and 10 of disc two are titled in Japanese.

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from Moriagaros liner notes booklet.

Performance credits

• Ai – vocals, background vocals
• Che'nelle – vocals (#9)
• Jeremih – vocals (#1)

• Bridget Kelly – vocals (#8, #15)
• Lloyd – vocals (#5)
• Swiss Chris – drums (#8)

Visuals and imagery

• Ambush – costume cooperation
• Justin Davis – costume cooperation
• Noriko Goto – stylist
• Ayako Hishinuma – prop creator ('Moriagaro Bling Bling')
• Manabu Honchu – design
• Justin & Valley – logo design
• Akio Kawabata – package coordination
• Yasunari Kikuma – photographer

• Akemi Ono – hair, make-up
• Toshiya Ono – art direction
• Shuma Saito – package coordination
• Silver Face – prop creator ('Moriagaro Knuckle Rings')
• Shigeaki Watanabe – prop creator ('Moriagaro Cap')
• Wut Berlin – costume cooperation
• X-Closet – costume cooperation
• Eiji Yoshimura – design

Technical and production

• Ai – producer (#1, #3–4, #6–7, #9–10)
• Arden 'Keys' Altino – co-producer (#8)
• Ben-E – producer (#6)
• Jo Blaq – mixing, vocal recording (#12)
• C3prod – producer (#6)
• Tom Coyne – album mastering
• D.Clax – producer (#5)
• De-Capo Music Group – producer (#1)
• DOI – mixing (#1–7, #9–11)
• Akene 'The Champ' Dunkley – co-producer (#8)
• Jerry 'Wonda' Duplessis – producer (#8)
• Fifty 1 Fifty – producer (#9–10, #12)
• Keisuke Fujimaki – vocal recording (#4)
• Seiji Itabashi – assisting (#8, #11)
• Carlos 'Los' Jenkins – vocal recording (#12)

• Neeraj Khajanchi – additional vocal recording (#8), vocal recording (#11)
• T. Kura – vocal editing (#2)
• Sean 'Pen' McMillion – engineering (#5), vocal producer for Lloyd (#5)
• Michico – vocal producer (#2)
• Yoshinori Morita – vocal recording (#1, #6–7, #9)
• Taiji Okuda – Japanese production (#5), recording (#2–3, #10)
• Mario Parra – Che'nelle's vocal recording (#9)
• Lance Powell – assisting (#8)
• Andrew Robertson – assisting (#8)
• Mark Roger – vocal recording (#1)
• Serge 'Sergical' Tsai – recording (#8)
• Uta – producer (#2–4, #7, #11)
• Satoshi Yoneda – vocal editing (#2)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013)! scope="col"

Peak position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[7]	5

Monthly charts

Chart (2013)! scope="col"

Peak position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[8]	18

Release history

Release history and formats for Motto Moriagaro!Region!Date!Format!Label

Japan

References

1. Web site: AI、「MORIAGARO」ツアーがスタート！ ツアー会場限定特典「ママへ –ギフトCD」を先着でプレゼント OKMusic. 2022-01-10. okmusic.jp.
2. Web site: AI、話題の深夜ドラマ「彼岸島」オープニングテーマに「TOP OF THE WORLD」！. 2022-01-10. プレスリリース・ニュースリリース配信シェアNo.1｜PR TIMES.
3. Web site: September 26, 2013. 最新アルバム「MORIAGARO」が更に盛り上がる豪華2枚組となって「MOTTO MORIAGARO」発売決定!!. Ai's new album Moriagaro to be released again as a super moriagaru 2CD set Motto Moriagaro. Ai Music. Japanese. September 29, 2013.
4. Moriagaro. Ai. 2013. Japanese. EMI Music Japan. Tokyo, Japan.
5. Web site: July 4, 2013. AI 、新作アルバム『MORIAGARO』7/17発売、初回限定 "もりあがろうプライス"2,500円！全国ツアーでAIと一緒にステージに立てる券など豪華抽選特典も封入！. Ai, new album Moriagaro 7/17 release, first press "Get Down Price" of 2,500 yen! Featuring lottery ticket to go onstage with Ai on her all Japan tour!. PR Times. Barks. Japanese. July 4, 2013.
6. Web site: Moriagaro / AI – TIDAL (US). 2022-01-10. listen.tidal.com. en.
7. Web site: Motto Moriagaro . Oricon. ja. October 14, 2023.
8. Web site: CDアルバム月間ランキング . Oricon . CD albums Monthly Ranking . Japanese . https://archive.today/20130903125933/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2013-07/more/3/ . September 3, 2013 . dead . September 4, 2013.